Key Takeaways
Ninety-two point-of-sale fundraising campaigns raised more than $275 million in 2024, per Engage for Good's biennial Charity Checkout Champions report, with the top four at Taco Bell, PetSmart, Walmart, and Petco collecting over $190 million.
Food security and hunger campaigns raised about $36 million of the total, behind animal causes at roughly $78 million and health causes at $69 million.
YouGov polling found 36% of consumers across 17 markets are unhappy about being asked to donate at checkout, versus 21% who like it.
If it feels like every store now asks you to round up for charity, the numbers say you are right. A Moneywise analysis published through Yahoo Finance this week pulled together the data on point-of-sale giving, and the scale is bigger than most shoppers realize.
Per Engage for Good's Charity Checkout Champions report, 92 checkout campaigns raised more than $275 million in 2024, with the top four at Taco Bell, PetSmart, Walmart, and Petco collecting over $190 million. Animal causes led with about $78 million, health causes drew $69 million, and food security and hunger campaigns raised roughly $36 million. About 40% of campaigns cleared $500,000, and a quarter of brands saw a sales lift while their campaigns ran.
The friction is real too. YouGov found 36% of consumers across 17 markets are unhappy about the checkout ask, against 21% who like it, and researchers point to time pressure and social pressure at the register. There is also a fairness critique. Michele Whetzel, president of 501 Guide, told Moneywise the campaigns work because "they don't have to put up any corporate funds," with retailers collecting goodwill as a pass-through. One persistent myth does not hold up, though. The Tax Policy Center confirms stores get no tax deduction for your roundup. The donation is yours, and with a receipt, so is the deduction.
The bigger story is where giving now happens: inside everyday transactions. It is the same shift showing up as creators become a major fundraising engine for nonprofits and as AI agents start routing donations on-chain. Nobody misses the 33 cents. Pooled, it moves hundreds of millions.
People Also Ask
How much money does checkout charity raise?
Ninety-two point-of-sale campaigns raised more than $275 million in 2024, according to Engage for Good's biennial Charity Checkout Champions report, with the top four campaigns alone collecting over $190 million.
Do stores get a tax break for checkout donations?
No. The Tax Policy Center confirms retailers act as a pass-through and cannot deduct customer donations. The person donating can claim the deduction if they keep the receipt and meet IRS requirements.
Do people like being asked to donate at checkout?
Opinions split negative. YouGov found 36% of consumers across 17 markets are unhappy about checkout donation requests, while 21% are happy about them, with time pressure and social pressure at the register driving much of the discomfort.
Is checkout giving effective for charities?
Yes. Nonprofit consultants note point-of-sale campaigns can raise significant sums with far less labor and expense than events or appeals, and participating retailers vet recipient nonprofits, so pooled small donations reach registered organizations.